Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-07
WHEELING DAILY REGISTER SATURDAY, MAY T. 1887

mento and San Joaquin valleys, but not
in larger quantities that his supposed saw
inrs would warrant. sometime about
1873 Miller, who by this time had come
10 be regarded as a representative citizen
and a solid man financially, married one
of the best known society women OF Sacra-
mentO. She was the widow OF a lawyer,
who had left her large competence and a
handsome homie She became devOtedly
attached to Miller, who by this time had
become vestryman of one of the fashion
able churches and an earnest worker in
philanthropic fields. Everybody said the
match was an excellent one, and the new
Mrs. Miller WAS warmly congratulated.
About the same time, the marriage took
place the railroad company removed its
general Office from Sacramento to San Fran
cisco and the headquarters of the Con-
tract and Finance company were removed
also. This made a permanent residence in
San Francisco necessary, and in year or
two Miller built So, 0OO house on Suttcr
street, one of the fashionable thorough
fares. By the way, the house stands ut
the corner Of Jones street, and is now Oc-
cupied by young Tim Hopkins. 1t was
the building of this bOuse that brought on
the crash and led To the unmasking OF the
adventurer.
Just before the crash came, c. p. Hunt
ingtOn paid his railway associates visit.
Now Huntington is the shrewdest and
keenest of all the railroad magnates. He
never knew much of Miller, and had not,
therefore, the opportunity to he magne-
TIED by that individual. He is a sharp
New Yorker, not accustomed to seeing a
trusted employe, no matter what his sala-
~, living in the same style rs his employ
ers. On au evil day Miller gave swell
banquet in honor of Mr.. Huntington and
the latter had an opportunity to observe
the costly mansion and its luXurles, the
valuable plate. the stable with its crack
steeds. He let the thing pass for
q while, not caring to be gull
ty of breach of hospitality
lust then, but when he got back to New
York he wrote long and confidential let
ter to Governor Stanford, in which he
asked if there had ever been any investl-
cation Of the Contract and Finance Com
pany; whether the Secretary had ever
made an accounting; and whether If he
Stanford did not think it time there was
one. Other correspondence followed, and
the directors at first SCOrned the idea of
there being anything wrong. Besides, such
a thing ~ an Overhauling these accounts
may have been Just rs diStaStetul to the
directors aS to Miller himself, for it was
believed abroad that there were many
ugly things buried there which 4 general
Investigation may inadvertently reveal.
But the seed Of distTust was sOwn, and
finally, after many months of delay, Mil
Ter was rendered leave of absence, aud n
trusted expert was put upon the books.
Whether the fact that he was given leave
when he had not asked for one excited
Millcr's suspicion, or whether he got wind
of what was going on in another way, Is
not known, but the very day the expect
began his work, Miller packed a small
valiSe, kissed his wife gOOd-by, and, say
ing he was going up the road for day or
two, left the house. Fortunately the eX-
pert had not been ut work two hours before
he found false entry Of $4,000.
And now the game was up, said the
LAWYER, "and it only remained to find the
missing man, for none doubted that he
had fled The railway detectives were
promptly put on his track; all the re-
sources of the company were taxed to
catch him before he could get out of the
state 1t was thought TO be IN easy enough
Job for Miller was known TO every train
hand on she road, and every conductor
-,
Miller had laid bold plan. He knew he
was too well known to hope to get away
without a complete disguise. When he
lett his elegant residence, he went straight
10 a second handKclOthings store, where
there was no possibility of his being known,
and fitted himself out rs an English sailor
a part he was we'll fitted to play. Then
he shaved OF his beard, bought 4 great
broad brimmed hat-.just such hat rs Il
sailor who wants to appear in shore
clothes would be sure to buy. Then he
bought a third class ticket To New York,
and succeeded in getting To Sacramento in
an emigrant car without discovery. Then
he left the train in the dark, and
hiring team where he thought
he could not De known, drove
across the country to ROckIm
Junction, where the Oregon road branches
of from the main line. There he bought
second-claSs ticket to Portland and took a
night train. But the conductor Of that
train could not be deceived. lie tcle-
graphrd j. 4. Fillmore, Division SupeIIn-
tcndent at Sacramento, that he thought he
had his man. Fillmore wired him to say
nothing, but run his train rs slow as pos
siblc until he IF. could ovcrtakp him in a
special engine. The latter followed ut
lightning speed and overlook the express
lust above Marysville. Fillmore went
through the train, and there, in the smOk-
ing car, crouChed down in the seat and
with his head half enyeloped in rough
pea Jacket, sat the rich secretary. Hello,
Millerl" said Fillmore. Miller looked up,
hut never moved a muscle. I thinks yer
mistaken, he growled. My names Jim
Petermm.' %, no, it isn't. WHAT'S the
matter? Are YCH crazy, disappearing
this way? Come, the Governor wants to
see you hight OF in San Francisco, said
Fillmore Miller heSitated ut first,
hut seeing that the railroad
man WAS in earnest and had 4
whole train crew back of him, he
gave in. But he would not do more than
accompany his captOrS. Not word could
be got out of him. They took him to Sac
ramrnto, got some appropriate clothes on
him, and that night a special train ran
HIM to San Francisco, where he was lodged
in Jail. lie lay in cell nearly week
while the expert was going through his
books Meantime the company found that
during the ten years of his service with
them he mad cmhezyled nearly $500, 900.
That much was admitted, but there the
investigation stopped. The company saw
at once that they would never dare prose
cute him, and 50 all at once proceedings